Knitting machine



April 11, 1939. H. RICHTER KNITTING MACHINE Filed July 13, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet l Hen/y ,Q/a/yer INVENTOR April 11, 1939. H RICHTER KNITTING MACHINE Filed July 13, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Henry Z/chfer' INVENTOR April 11, 1939. H. RICHTER KNITTING MACHINE Filed July 15, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Henry E/cbfer INVENTOR.

AT RN H. RICHTER KNITTING MACHINE Filed July 13, 1938 April 11, 1939.

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 flen y RIM/er INVEN TOR.

Patented Apr. 11, 1939.

UNITED STATES "PATENT OFFICE aims;

Henry Richter, kankakec, 111., asslgnor to Paramount Textile Machinery 00., Chicago, 111., a

corporation Applica'flon July is, 193s, SeriaFNo. 2183898 9 Claims. (01. seo'n This invention relates to knitting machines and more particularly to a webholder supporting V and guiding ring therefor. It has more particular reference to knitting machines having a needle supporting and guiding member and a separate webholder supporting and guiding member arranged in cooperative relation therewith. The invention is applicable to knitting machines, generally wherein it is desired accurately to support and guide a knitting element.

The improvement constituting the present in- 'vention will be described as applied to a circular knitting machine, although it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that his equally pertilg nent to flat bed knitting machines wherein similar knitting elements are employed. Nor'is it limited to machines in which cylinder needles coact with the webholders (or sinkers as they are commonly known) but may be extended'to machines so in which other types of knitting elements cooperate with each other, for example, cylinder and dial needles as sad for knitting ribbed fabric.

Accordingly, the principal object of my invention is the provision of means to support and as guide knitting elements, as for example, needles or wehhoiders, or the like positively and aoc'urately with respect to the machine or with each other to attain a uniform predetermined stitch structure. so A further object is the provision of means for the purpose lust described characterized by guiding and supporting means'oi material of substantial hardness so that the relationship of the guided and supported elements changes little, if any, during prolonged use of the machine.

An additional object is to construct said means of such form and to locate it in the machine in such manner that one means may serve coasting knitting elements simultaneously.

Another object is the provision of such means which may be cheaply lubricated and.standard- 4 lzed for convenience in replacement. Further objects will appear as the description The accompanying drawings are to beunder- I stood as showing only a certain type and application -c't my invention and that the same is capable. of a wide range of modifications and applications within the scope of the claims without departing from the essentials thereol.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a plan view of a portion of a conventionalknitting machine cylinder provided with separable ring for. supporting and guiding the nkers; showing for simplicity, only a few of the needles and s'inkers.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of Figure 1;

FigurcSisacrosssestiononthelineL-Iof Fi e 1;

Figure 4 is a partial section on the line l-4 of Figure l;

Figure 5 is a detail of a normal needle and ones! its related sinkers in normal position during the formation of a stitch:

Figure 5a is a detail of a normal needle and one of its related sinkers in displaced position 10 during the formation of a stitch;

Figure 6 is a view showing a portion of a knitted fabric containing the defect known as a "wale streak or "needle streak";

Flgure'lisa detailshowinganeedle andtwo II of its cooperating 'sinkers to ilhlstrate defective kinking of the yarn caused by needle displacement: r

Figure 8 is a substantially ditic plan view of a few sinkers and needles during the fabric forming operation, and including a portion of the fabric;

Figures 9 and 90. show the head of a normal needle at two-stages during the formation of a plated stitch: as

Figures 10, 10a and 10b show the relative positions of the head of a displaced and 0! a normal needle at various stages during the formation of a plated stitch:

Figure11isaplanviewoiasinkei"i'inliincor porating the present invention and its sinkers but with most of them removed for simplicity:

Figure 12 is a partial cross section on the line iI-II of Figure 11; and

Figures 13 and 14 are sectional detailed perspective views of modified forms of the invention.

. In .order to clariiy the advance made by my invention it is deemed necessary to treat oi the conventional construction and operation of prior .art devices on which my invention is an improve- 40 ment.

Now, referring to Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, I have shown by way of illustration 0. portion oi a cylinderof a circular knitting machine of a common type, in which a hollow cylinder ii is provided 45 on its exterior periphery with longitudinal slots ii in which independently movable latch needles II are arranged to slide. It isunderstood that there are slots and their associated needles equidistantly spaced around the entire circumference so v, of the cylinder, although only a portion of it is shown together with a few needles. It is to be appreciated also that instead of latch needles the machine may employ spring beard needles.

Arranged to cooperate with the needles it in Bl I! and a neb l6 together forming the throat ll;

upper and lower guiding surfaces l8 and I9 respectively and an operating butt 2|.

Sinkers M are supported and guided for movement inward and outward radially with respect to the cylinder II on a sinker ring 22 comprising a substantially cylindrical member having a portion 23 fitting snugly within the cylinder Ii. Ring 22 is retained vertically by a circumferential shoulder 24, and in operative relation with the cylinder II by means of screws or similar fastening means 25, passing through slotted holes in the flange 29, whereby circumferential adjustment may be made. Slots 26, one for each sinker, are provided in the upper edge of the ring 22, each said slot being only a sufficient width to accommodate each sinker for a snug sliding'flt to obviate sidewise rocking of the sinker. A shoulder 2! on the ring 22 provides a bearing surface for the surface l8 of the sinker. Slots 26 are most commonly formed by a circular saw indicated by dot and dash line 80, so arranged as to out such slots beginning at a point approximately at the corner 28 and then clearing below the flat surface 21. Such procedure leaves a short flat bearing surface 21 relieved toward the inside of the ring by the saw cuts 26.

Sinkers I 4 are usually of hardened steel and the ring 22 most commonly of brass, although some ordinary steel rings have been used. Consequently the thin bearing edge 18 pressed downward as it is by the tension of the formed stitch cuts into the limited surface 2! much as a saw. so that eventually the established surface 21 is destroyed, and usually in an uneven manner due to variations in tension of the knitted fabric over its circumference and difference in hardness of the slnkers l4 and ring 22. At this point it should observed that surface 21 is quite narrow compared to the length of stroke of the sinker so that considerable friction occurs between the two. I

Practically all of the bearing surface 21 is actually a series of ribs (Figure 1), these ribs being formed when the slots constituting a continuation of slots I! are cut in the sinker ring to guide the needles at their upper extremity. Hence, if smash-ups" due to needle breakage occur in the machine, a number of the ribs 20, being thin and small in area, are usually broken oil and the bearing surface 21 for a corresponding number of sinkers thereby destroyed.

As wear occurs in the surface'21, or the bearing surface is destroyed entirely, the sinkers take up different relative elevations, and the relation between the hook 3| of the needle l3 and the knocking over surface l5 changes between adiacent sinkers. In Figure 5 I have shown a sinker il in normal position with relation to a dot and dash reference line and in Figure 5a a sinker displaced downward due to wear or destruction of the bearing surface 21. Since hook Si is on the same elevation in both figures, a look L formed by cooperation of the knocking over surface I! and hook I is of normal size in Figure 5 and shortened'in Figure due to lowering ofsurface II with respect to hook u.

The effect of such shortening of loops is clearly shown in Figure 6. 38 depicts asinker' loop and I4, I its related needle loops, which, having been foreshortened as described above, yield tighter stitches in the wales associated with said displaced sinker. Said tighter loops will naturally continue throughout the entire length of the knitted web and result in a stripe of less translucency than the normally knitted remainder of the fabric due to the tighter loops reducing the light transmitting area of that portion of the fabric. Such streak, i. e., "needle streak" will therefore appear darker than the normal fabric portion and constitute a defect suflicient to render the fabric subject to rejection. Goods of this character are classifiable as seconds" or thirds and can be sold only for a substantially lower price than a perfect article.

Now reverting to Figure .3 it will be noted that the back of needle it at its upper end depends for a bearing surface on the peripheral surface 36 of the ring 22. Constant reciprocation of the needles will in time have the same effect on surface 36 as the sinkers have on their bearing surface, all as described herelnabove and with like objectionable results.

In Figure 7 I have depicted the effect of needle displacement due to wear of its bearing surface. 3! is a plan view of the hook in normal position and Sla its location displaced toward the inside of cylinder due to wear of the needle bearing surface. It will be obvious from the figure that the yarn kinked between sinkers l4 and needle hook II in normal relation is greater than when the needle hook is displaced to 3 I (1. Accordingly when less yarn is klnked the loop is tighter and the defect shown by Figure 6 results, except that in this instance needle loops 24 are tighter.

To aid in the understanding of Figure 7, I have in Figure 8 illustrated somewhat diagrammatically the formation of the knitted loops by cooperation of needles and sinkers.

From the foregoing it will be seen that although errors of needle or sinker misalignment may exist at different places on the cylinder circumference. such errors may also occur together, as for example, where two misplaced sinkers subtend one misplaced needle, in which event their effects cumulate and the defect illustrated in Figure 6 is amplified. 1

Another frequently encountered problem resulting from displaced needles is in the plating of reinforcing yarns or in plating and reverse plating fordesign purposes or a combination of both, in any of which cases it is indispensable that the two (or sometimes three) yarns to be held in a predetermined relation while being knitted into loops. i

For example, in Figure 9 I have shown yarns F and B, for convenience termed the facing yarn and backing yarn respectively. When first fed to the hook 3i yarn B is above F and as the stitch is drawn (Figure 9a) yarn B stays to the outside of the needle and hook II moves'down to spring yarn B adjacent to F. Subsequently when the loop is completed yarn F is on the face of the fabric and B on the inside. This is the normal procedure.

However, if a needle or needles are displaced "toward the inside of the cylinder by wear of the formation, B has been dislodged by misplaced needle 42 around the hook to the inside thereof due to the positioning of the fed yarn and 1'' is being brought nearer to 8 while the needle moves downward. Yet at this time, because of the displacement of needle 2 yarn B is permitted to move inward relatively to I" as clearly shown in Figure 100. so that when the stitch is completed B is on the inside of the hook and F to the outside, Figure 1011, precisely the reverse of the normal condition of Figure 90. As a result of this displacing of the yarns B and I" at any particular needle or needles, the stitches at those points are the reverse of normal and yield what may be termed "accidental reverse plating. In a fabric reinforced by plating this defect is particularly obnoxious in light colored goods wherein the backing yarn will take the dye differently from the facing yarn and light or dark specks. as the case may be,m ar what should be a perfect fabric. In a fabric characterized by designs formed by plating and reverse plating, "accidental reverse plating will produce defects in the design that are highly objectionable by failing to fill out a particular portion of design with the proper color, 1. e., facing yarn, or by introducing on the backing yarn odd stitches of the colored yarn.

It will be understood that while, for clarity, I have shown in Figures 10, 10a and 10b needles II and 2 at the same elevation, there is really a slight diiference therein due to the slope of the knitting cam. However, this does not affect the explanation given for these figures.

From a consideration of the foregoing it will be concluded that positive positioning and guiding of the sinkers and needles with respect to the machine and to each other is highlyimportant and such result has been obtained in various ways. I am aware of the British Patents to Feargus Mellor No. 250 of 1889, and to Alfred Boult No. 16.218 of 1886. and the United States Patents to Robert W. Scott et al., No. 421,147,

granted February ll, 1890, and to Joseph K.

Cobert, No. 2,061,299 granted November 17, 1936, but as will be described, none of these discloses the novel construction and advantages of my invention.

In Figure 11 I have shown the sinker ring generally, 5|,but in dot and dash lines for clarity in revealing the essential nature of my invention. II and H are the needles and sinkers respectively, only a few of "each being shown for simplicity, it being understood that such sinkers and needles are arranged around the entire circumference of the ring II.

Referring now to Figure 12, it will be seen that sinker ringlil is constructed somewhat different-- ly from that of the prior art. The material of which it is made may be steel, bronze, brass or any other suitable material, into which are cut the sinker slots 53 by means of a circular saw it indicated by dot and dash lines. Around the circumference of the ring ii is formed a rectangular recess 55, said recess being cut just above the bottom of sinker slots as shown in Figure l2. Into the recess I5 is inserted a continuous annulus it of rectangular cross-section, of inner diameter affording a light press flt into recess 55, and outer diameter slightly greater than the diameter of the cylinderv ll measured across the bottom of the needle slots II. The corners I! at the lower Junction of the recess 55 and annulus 56 are slightly chamfered and solder or similar material used to sweat the annulus 58 into fixed relation with the ring 5|. It will be appreciated that annulus It may, if convenient, be fastened by screws or any equivalent means.

Sweating is to be preferred since it does not distort the annulus S8 inany way, while it is a relatively simple matter to remove the ring if desired. The sinker ring 5| fitted with annulus 88 is then assembled with the cylinder as de scribed in connection with Figure 8.

Annulus 56 may be constructed of case-hardened steel, highly tempered steel or of tool steel. However, I have discovered that an alloy composed of cobalt, chromium and tungsten, known commercially as Haynes Stellite, possesses considerably greater hardness and hence resistance to abrasion than any case-hardened or tempered tool steel, and is therefore to be preferred in carrying out my invention. The preferred pro- 1 portions of said alloy should be on the order of cobalt 65%, tungsten 5% and chromium 30%, with sometimes the addition of molybdenum, although I do not desire to limit myself to any such proportions. Annulus U8 is ground to accurate dimensions, first on the inner diameter to provide accurate relation with the sinker ring; second, on the outer diameter to provide an even. true circular bearing surface for the backs of the needles, which at their upper ends bear positively on the annulus instead of on a surface projected from the back of the slots l2, and .third, in thickness the distance between sinker bearing surfaces l8 and IS, with just sumcient margin to allow for free sliding movement of the sinkers ll. Thus the sinkers are maintained in common alignment on a highly abrasion resist ant support and simultaneously the needles are all held in a true circle since annulus 58, constructed of the material indicated as preferred, will wear very slightly if at all over a long period of time, so that such wear will be uniform as to all slnkers and needles.

Slots 53 are undercut with respect to the upper surface of annulus 56, as clearly shown in Figure 12 to insure that slnkers It will rest exclusively on said ring and not be forced into misalignment by bearing on any irregularly sawn slots 53. It will be particularly noted that no slots are cut in ring it to affect its smooth bearms area.

It is not intended that the invention be limited to the assemblage of a separate annulus with the sinker ring proper, but I may provide in the sinker ring a bearing surface that is the equivalent oi' the inserted annulus by depositing highly abrasion resistant material by means of an electric arc. Such built-up surface can then be ground or otherwise finished to the proper dimensions.

I have discovered that it is not essential to guide the upper extremity of the needle against sidewise strain, as the support afforded by the slots I! continues up far enough to make such upper guide dispensable. Nevertheless, there may be types of machines in which support at the upper extremity of the needle will be required in which cases the modifications of Figures 13 and 14 may be availed of.

In both figures the hard annulus 60 is installed similarly to Figure 12 but it is also provided with ribs 63 forming slots 62 to guide the needle near its hook. The alternative of Figure 14 is to be preferred since if, as often occurs, any of the ribs 83 breaks on, the upper (or more vital) bearing surface of the annulus upon which the sinkers depend for accurate vertical positioning would not be reduced in width, whereas in Figure 13 the breaking oil of a rib would leave such bearing surface reduced by the amount of relief left by the saw cuts forming said ribs, as

7 indicated at 64.

One other important advantage of the use of my invention is found in applying the same to the Scott 8: Williams model K machine for knitting circular knit ladies stockings, the construction of which is familiar to those skilled in the art. Such machines are invariably equipped with a dial carrying pairs of bits cooperating with the needles in a manner automatically to turn one wall of a double wall welt. One desideratum of such function is accurate register of each pair of bits with its individual needle whereby stitches are lifted oil the needles, held temporarily, and transferred back to them. Unless the needles are maintained on a true circle of predetermined diameter, misfunctioning of the welt-turning apparatus may occur by failure of the needles to lie in their proper position beneath said bits. My invention, by maintaining the desired relationship of the needles, eliminates any such error.

Advantages inherent in my invention find further recognition during the knitting of the heel and toe pocket of a stocking, As is known, such parts of the article are usually knit under considerable tension for the reason that tight fabric, being closer knit and smoother, offers greater resistance to wear. This requisite tightness is obtained by moving the entire cylinder vertically to adjust the stitch tension and cannot be regu-- lated over any selected segment of the heel and toe needles. Accordingly, if some certain loops are being knitted tighter due solely to misplacement of needles or sinkers, or both, as pointed out heretofore, any attempt to increase tension in the fabric generally, 1. e., over the circumference of the cylinder, will put that much additional strain on those loops just referred to. Consequently cutting of these loops and unraveling of the fabric quite frequently occur. If all needles and sinkers are maintained in accurate relation, then all stitches are uniform in size and will accept any increase in tension equally.

A further advantage derived from the use of my invention will be appreciated in connection with machines that knit the heel and toe pockets of the stockings as an integral art thereof. As is known to those familiar with the art, the heel and toe pockets are knit on a series of needles comprising one-half of the cylinder needles and its associated sinkers. Such series is always the same for consecutively knitted stockings. Co'nsequently if, as is usual, greater tension is utilized in knitting these pockets, the series of needles and sinkers employed therefor will be subjected to greater pressure and therefore greater wear than the other half of the needles and sinkers that remain idle during such knitting. Misalignment of the active knitting elements due to such wear is obviated by the use of the present invention. It will be apprehended that should inordinate misalignment of sinkers and needles on one-half of the cylinder be permitted the foreshortening of stitches on that side will render the fabric knit thereon tighter and the length of the web shorter than the other half of the stocking. Thus, what is termed a "bow legged" article may be produced.

The description of the foregoing paragraph is not limited to the case wherein only the heel and toe pockets are knit under tension, but is applicable to an article and machine in which reinforced areas, for example, the sole, of the stocking is knit. The introduction into the knitted web of extra reinforcing yarn has the effect,

known to those in the art. or increasing the sion in the knitting by accumulating two or more yarns on one needle and with results as just explained.

Even though I have, by way of example, made reference in the description to machines for knitting hosiery articles, it will be apprehended that the improvement has application to types of machines for making other garments or fabrics and constructed differently from the devices illustrated.

I claim:

1. In a knitting machine, a needle cylinder, a plurality of needles received and guided therein, a sinker ring mounted integrally with said cylinder, a plurality of sinkers received and guided by said sinker ring, and an annulus of substantially greater abrasion resistance than said cylinder and sinker ring mounted in said sinker ring to provide a bearing surface for said needles and sinkers simultaneously.

2. In combination, in a knitting machine, a'

plurality of needles, means for slidably guiding said needles, a plurality of webholders adapted to cooperate with said needles, means associated with said first mentioned means to slidably guide said webholders, and a member associated with said two mentioned means of substantially greater abrasion resistance than said two mentioned means to provide a bearing surface for said needles and webholders simultaneously.

3. In combination, in a circular knitting machine, a needle cylinder, a plurality of needles slidably guided therein, a webholder ring mounted in said cylinder, a plurality of webholders slidably guided in saidring, and an annulus incorporated with said ring and of greater abrasion resistance than said ring and cylinder to provide a bearing surface for said needles and webholders simultaneously.

4. In combination, in a. circular knitting ma chine, a needle cylinder, a plurality of needles slidably guided therein, a webholder ring mounted in said cylinder, a plurality of webholders slidably guided in said ring, and an annulus of greater abrasion resistance than said ring and cylinder and adapted to provide a bearing surface for said needles and webholders simultaneously.

5. In combination, in a. knitting machine, a plurality of needles, means to slidably guide said needles, a plurality of webholders adapted to cooperate with said needles in forming the knitted web, each of said webholders having a parallelsided slot, means to slidably guide said webholders, and a bearing member of substantially greater abrasion resistance than said two mentioned means with which said slots slidably engage while simultaneously providing a bearing surface for said needles.

6. In combination, in a knitting machine, a plurality of needles, means for slidably guiding said needles, a plurality of webholders adapted to cooperate with said needles, means associated with said first mentioned means to slidably guide said webholders, and a member associated with said two mentioned means comprised of an alloy of cobalt, tungsten and chromium, on the orderof cobalt 65%, tungsten and chromium 30%, offering substantially greater abrasion resistance than said two mentioned means to provide a bearing surface for said needles and webholders simultaneously.

7. In combination, in a knitting machine, a plurality of needles, means for slidably guiding said needles, a plurality of webholders adapted to cooperate with said needles, means associated with said first mentioned means to slidably guide said webholders, and a member associated with said two mentioned means of substantially greater abrasion resistance than said two mentioned means to provide a bearing surface for both said needles and webholders.

8. In combination, in a knitting machine, a series of knitting implements, means for slidably guiding said series, a second series of knitting implements adapted to cooperate with said first series, means to slidably guide said second series and a member 01 substantially greater abrasion resistance than said two mentioned means, to provide a bearing surface for said two series of implements simultaneously.

9. In combination, in a knitting machine, a series of knitting implements, means for slidably guiding said series, a second series of knitting implements adapted to cooperate with said first series, means to slidably guide said second series and a member of substantially greater abrasion resistance than said two mentioned means, to provide a bearing surface for both said series of implements.

HENRY RICHTER.

CERTIFICATE OF connscrrou.

Patent No. 2,194,581,.

April 11, 19 9.

HENRY RICHTER.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the, above numbered patent requiring correction as follows. Page 2, first column, line 15, after the word "should" insert be; line 67, for "look" read loop; same page, second column, line 61, for "spring" read bring; page 1 first column, line 1 .7, for the word "art" read part; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 1 th day of July, A. D. 1959.

(Seal) Henry Van Arsdale Acting Commissioner of Patents.

said needles, a plurality of webholders adapted to cooperate with said needles, means associated with said first mentioned means to slidably guide said webholders, and a member associated with said two mentioned means of substantially greater abrasion resistance than said two mentioned means to provide a bearing surface for both said needles and webholders.

8. In combination, in a knitting machine, a series of knitting implements, means for slidably guiding said series, a second series of knitting implements adapted to cooperate with said first series, means to slidably guide said second series and a member 01 substantially greater abrasion resistance than said two mentioned means, to provide a bearing surface for said two series of implements simultaneously.

9. In combination, in a knitting machine, a series of knitting implements, means for slidably guiding said series, a second series of knitting implements adapted to cooperate with said first series, means to slidably guide said second series and a member of substantially greater abrasion resistance than said two mentioned means, to provide a bearing surface for both said series of implements.

HENRY RICHTER.

CERTIFICATE OF connscrrou.

Patent No. 2,194,581,.

April 11, 19 9.

HENRY RICHTER.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the, above numbered patent requiring correction as follows. Page 2, first column, line 15, after the word "should" insert be; line 67, for "look" read loop; same page, second column, line 61, for "spring" read bring; page 1 first column, line 1 .7, for the word "art" read part; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 1 th day of July, A. D. 1959.

(Seal) Henry Van Arsdale Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

